The voice is unmistakable from the one that is a key component of her band, Portishead. Lives Outgrown is singer Beth Gibbons’ first solo album. It has a woodsy vibe with an atmosphere of ghosts swirling around a campfire. “Tell Me Who You Are Today” has a bit of nice guitar but then a foreboding tension fills the air. “Burden of Life” has drums sounding like they are coming from deep in the forest. Later, those same drums are more propulsive on “Reaching Out”.
“Floating On A Moment” is perfectly named as it does make it feel like you are floating in a river, heads up. The sound of birds chirping close out “Whispering Love” and the album. Lives Outgrown has gained much critical acclaim for it’s mournful folk sound and songs that speak about growing old and mortality. It may not register for all but for many, it will one of the better albums of the year.
7/10
The Light Appears 